August Benedicto and Anna Stroh emerge top athletes in 2014 season of Tri United Series

August Benedicto of Team Unilab Active Health (fourth from left) ruled the Male Elite and is flanked by Nikko Huelgas (l and ULAH teammate John Leerams Chicano. With them are Raul Cuevas of Bike King and ULAH head Alex Panlilio. photo by Dwight Pangilinan

UNILAB Active Health teammates August Benedicto and Anna Stroh emerged as the top athletes in the Male and Female Elite categories, respectively, of the 2014 season of the Tri United Series.

Benedicto and Stroh stood out in a gathering of a triathlon who’s who as the top finishers of the popular triathlon series were feted in a ceremony held at the Jose Y. Campos Hall, Bayanihan Center in Pasig City last week.

The Subic-based Benedicto said his latest feat serves as motivation for him to improve his performance in what promises to be a more competitive 2015.

He took the top honors in the Male Elite after finishing third in Tri United 1 and 2 before bagging first place in TU3. National team captain Nikko Huelgas came in second overall while John Leerams Chicano of ULAH finished third.

In the distaff side, Stroh took the Female Elite plum after finishing first in TU2 and TU3 to improve on her fourth-place performance in TU1. Teammate Ani Brown of ULAH took second place honors and Radka Vodickova of Culprit Bicycles came in third.

Sante Barley ruled the team competition thanks to impressive first-place performances in TU2 and TU3 and second place in TU1. Herbalife was second followed by Fitness First in third.

The 30-year old Benedicto said he had been taking part in the TU series since he began competing in 2009. He signed on with the ULAH team in 2012 before winning the Ironman 70.3 in Cebu the same year.

Benedicto said he is set to train in Thailand this December in preparation for next season.

“I want to prepare for 2015 since there will be a lot of 70.3 races and for me to defend my title. From the very start of the TU series, I told myself this will get bigger since the races are well organized," he said.

Benedicto said the level of competition becomes more challenging every year.

“Tumataas ng tumataas ang standard. Every race humahaba so kailangan tumaas ang volume ng training ko. This (award) is motivation for me,” said Benedicto, who intends to improve on his swimming skills.

Unlike some of his competitors, the affable Benedicto said he prefers hot weather during competition particularly in the bike and run stages, claiming it makes the race “more exciting."

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Race director Raul Cuevas of Bike King said the 2015 Tri United Series promises to offer more innovations, new routes and challenges for both loyal and new participants.